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Prosecutors say man who killed his parents had drug debts

Associated Press
Published 4:47 p.m. MT March 23, 2018

This Sept. 7, 2017, photo provided by the Montana Department of Corrections shows Kaleb David Taylor, who is charged with two counts of deliberate homicide in the weekend deaths of his parents, David and Charla Taylor at their home north of Helena, Mont. He made an initial appearance on Wednesday, March 21, 2018, where his bail was set at $500,000. (Montana Department of Corrections via AP)(Photo: AP)

HELENA — A Helena-area man charged with killing his parents and another man have acknowledged burglarizing the victims' business earlier this month to get money to pay a drug debt, Lewis and Clark County prosecutors said.

Kyle Alexander Hamm, 21, was charged Friday in Justice Court with two counts of deliberate homicide in the March 18 deaths of David Taylor, 61, and Charla Taylor, 64.

Prosecutors have said the victims' son, Kaleb David Taylor, 21, confessed to killing his parents. He was charged Thursday.

Justice of the Peace Michael Swingley set bail at $500,000 for both defendants. They have not entered pleas and have requested public defenders.

Hamm also faces drug charges along with burglary and theft charges related to a March 10 break-in at the Lincoln Road RV Park, which was owned by the Taylors.

Based on surveillance video, prosecutors believe Taylor, Hamm and two others broke into the RV park office and took less than $1,500, Hamm's charging documents said. Both Hamm and Taylor said a man with a gun had threatened Taylor for failing to pay a drug debt so they stole money from the RV park, investigators said. Taylor did not identify who made the alleged threat.

David and Charla Taylor had confronted their son about the break-in and he acknowledged his role, other members of the victims' family told investigators.

On the night of the homicides, Hamm told officers he was with Taylor and another man at a Helena casino where they decided to drive to the victims' house.

Hamm said Taylor and the other man went inside the residence while he stayed outside.

They then went to a car wash where surveillance video shows Taylor and the other man using the wash wand to spray their feet, "presumably to remove evidence of blood," charging documents said. The other man also washed a "long bar-type device investigators believe was the murder weapon." Hamm acknowledged kicking a knife into the car wash drain, court records said.

An autopsy determined David and Charla Taylor died of blunt force and sharp force injuries.

The initial charges against Taylor did not include the RV park burglary.

Sheriff Leo Dutton says officers are searching for two other persons of interest.